In the NewsIn the Newshttp://thebroadbandcoalition.com/inthenews/2015-02-24T00:22:35ZSquarespaceState Leaders Urge Preservation of Broadband Competition in Tech Transitionhttp://thebroadbandcoalition.com/inthenews/2015/2/23/state-leaders-urge-preservation-of-broadband-competition-in.htmlTBC Editor2015-02-24T00:21:52Z2015-02-24T00:21:52ZBroadband Coalition Applauds NARUC Resolution in Support of Residential and Business Competition

WASHINGTON DC (February 18, 2015) – State regulatory government leaders are standing up for competition and choice in broadband service for consumers and businesses. In a vote today at their winter meeting, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) passed a resolution in support of continued access to competition during and after the tech transition to advanced networks.

The NARUC resolution adds momentum to the movement by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Chairman Tom Wheeler to enshrine competition, and other core network values, in future networks.

Highlighting both residential and business service, NARUC’s resolution urged that rules in the FCC tech transition "ensure that competition and current consumer protections -- including privacy, complaint resolution, basic service, and service quality -- remain in effect regardless of the technology used to provide service, and should endorse the states' continued enforcement of these protections where they exist under state law."

In response to the NARUC resolution in support of competition and the tech transition, Jeff Sharp, a spokesperson for the Broadband Coalition, released the following statement:

“The home team sent a strong message to policy makers in Washington today: don’t mess with broadband competition.

“The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) resolution supports broadband competition - for both residential and business services -during and beyond the tech transition. The enduring value of competition has helped business and non-profit customers innovate, save money and expand.

“The resolution by NARUC is a sign that the FCC’s action on competition and the tech transition are in tune with the needs of local businesses who want a choice in broadband service.

“Competitive broadband customers include local businesses and local government entities in both rural and urban markets. Today, NARUC aided the effort to ensure that local access to competition, affordable choices, and better service is preserved for next generation networks.”

WASHINGTON, DC (Friday, November 21, 2014) – Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took an important step forward in protecting competition policy for consumers and business customers who want more choices for broadband service.

By passing their proposed rulemaking to facilitate technology transitions, the FCC is seeking comment on proposals to promote and preserve network values including public safety, consumer protection and competition for future networks.

In response to the FCC vote, Jeff Sharp, a spokesperson for the Broadband Coalition, released the following statement:

“The FCC sent a clear message today: New networks, more competition.

“By seeking to enshrine competition policy during the tech transition, the FCC is standing up for broadband customers’ ability to choose their provider based on price, service and innovation.

“Customers are calling for more competition, and the FCC has said the customer is always right. Today’s vote is a win for schools, small businesses and local government agencies that have chosen a competitive broadband provider. By ensuring last mile access is not used as a bottleneck to choke out competition, the FCC will speed the creation of new networks and new competition.

“In a perfect world, the existing network value of competition would not require protection. Unfortunately, large incumbent telecom providers have demonstrated a desire to use the technology transition as an excuse for blocking competition and raising prices. Last week, in a brazen display of market power abuse, one large provider even threated to hold fiber deployment hostage over a separate technology issue.

“The Broadband Coalition applauds the work and vision the FCC commissioners, and staff, have dedicated to ensuring competition policy will continue to drive technology transitions moving forward. Whether IP travels over copper, fiber or any technology, competition must remain the gold standard.”

In response to the FCC announcement, Jeff Sharp, a spokesperson for the Broadband Coalition released the following statement:

“After years of Bell tricks designed to thwart competition, the Chairman’s announcement today gives a Halloween treat to consumers and business customers who want access to more choices, more networks, and more competition for broadband service.

“Landmark, bi-partisan competition rules have helped create an American-made innovation revolution for broadband services. Competition helped bring services like VoIP, the cloud and other IP services to market. We are pleased that the proposal recognizes the enduring importance of core values—including competition and public safety—for how our networks work.

“For months, our customers—large and small, from national chain stores to local non-profits—have spoken up for preservation of the services and choices their competitive providers offer. Addressing preservation of last mile access and ensuring a smooth copper transition, the proposal signals the FCC stands ready to scare off misguided attempts to limit choice and competition.”

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DON’T MISS: Yesterday, on the Broadband Coalition Blog, Chip Pickering, the CEO of COMPTEL, detailed how the FCC and Chairman Wheeler’s words have been laying the groundwork for action on competition policy. CLICK HERE to READ.

]]>Competition in Good Hands with FCC’s Wheeler, New Fighterhttp://thebroadbandcoalition.com/inthenews/2014/10/6/competition-in-good-hands-with-fccs-wheeler-new-fighter.htmlThe Broadband Coalition2014-10-06T19:54:31Z2014-10-06T19:54:31ZBroadband Coalition Statement on FCC Chairman’s Remarks, New COMPTEL Membership

During the show, COMPTEL CEO, Chip Pickering, announced that COMPTEL has added new members in the fight for competitive policy including, Netflix, Amazon, Google Fiber, SoftBank, Vodafone, AngelList.

In response to the Chairman’s remarks and the news at COMPTEL, Jeff Sharp, a spokesperson for the Broadband Coalition, released the following statement:

"Tom Wheeler is a man rooted in history, but firmly focused on the future. And in his hands, the future of competition is bright. Today he made it clear that both last mile and interconnection must be preserved as we transition to future networks.

"Stating that the transition to an IP future will not be a license to eliminate competition, Wheeler stressed the importance of interconnection. He argued that the loss of interconnection would lead to a crisis for consumers and a crisis for workers. On behalf of our customers who have chosen a competitive provider, we applaud his commitment to preserving future competition.

"Under Chip Pickering’s leadership, COMPTEL has transformed itself into the fighter competition policy needs. Adding Netflix, Amazon Prime, Google Fiber, SoftBank, Vodafone and AngelList brings cutting edge voices and feisty start-ups to the table. We welcome these innovators to COMPTEL and look forward to including their voices in the growing conversation over the future of competition policy."

Speaking from tech start up incubator 1776 in Washington DC, Chairman Wheeler stressed that Americans demand more broadband, and competition is the most effective tool for driving investment and economic benefit.

In response to Chairman Wheeler’s remarks, Jeff Sharp, a spokesperson for the Broadband Coalition, released the following comment:

The words competition and Wheeler go hand in hand. Today, the FCC Chairman made it very clear: Americans must have more broadband competition to drive investment and innovation, and the FCC should act to eliminate barriers to competition for the networks of today and tomorrow.

Wheeler’s speech made it clear that competition policy will not be abandoned as we move into the IP future. He clarified two important policy areas:

First, monopoly-minded incumbents should not be allowed to use their hold on last mile access to block competition, including by preventing customers from switching providers. Second, by setting the rules of the road for broadband competition we will ensure innovation and investment continue to drive our economy.

History has proven that competition produces innovation. The members of the Broadband Coalition, and the competitive telecom community, have helped bring innovations like Ethernet and the cloud to the business market.

We applaud Chairman Wheeler for his dedication to competition and for highlighting specific key constraints, like last mile access, that could limit competition. Broadband customers who want a choice in service providers were given a signal today from the Chairman that the future of broadband and the future of competition go hand in hand.

]]>Broadband Coalition Statement on OMB Approval of FCC Special Access Data Collectionhttp://thebroadbandcoalition.com/inthenews/2014/8/18/broadband-coalition-statement-on-omb-approval-of-fcc-special.htmlTBC Editor2014-08-18T19:35:04Z2014-08-18T19:35:04ZWashington DC (Monday August 18, 2014) – Today, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) special access data collection request. This decision clears the way for the FCC to conduct a comprehensive review of incumbent telecom providers’ market power in the provision of business broadband services.

This data will provide the FCC with information on the extent to which incumbent telecom providers are able to charge monopoly prices for business broadband, while locking up demand to prevent competitive alternatives from expanding their presence in the marketplace.

In response, Jeff Sharp, a spokesperson for the Broadband Coalition, released the following statement:

“Special access data is competition data. More competition drives better prices and better customer service in the business services marketplace. We applaud the OMB and FCC for taking this important step forward in collecting data that will measure the level of competition in this marketplace. This data collection will help empower the FCC as it ensures that small businesses, schools, libraries and governments are able to obtain broadband service at affordable prices.

“Making policy in the dark is a bad idea. Collecting competition data will help the FCC and the policymakers on Capitol Hill bring more competition and choices to business customers. The limits in choices and higher prices available today are the result of market manipulation by incumbents who have exploited their market power to block competition.

“Deployment of IP technologies, innovation and job growth have all fallen victim to this market power abuse. The data the FCC will now be able to collect will help them identify and stop the anticompetitive practices of the incumbent telecom providers. The ultimate result will be more competition, investment and innovation in broadband for American businesses and consumers.”

Washington DC (Wednesday June 18th, 2014) – Today the Broadband Coalition, a collection of the nation's leading competitive providers of voice, broadband and cloud services, launched a new effort to highlight the needs of their business customers in the debate over the future of broadband networks.

The new effort, called Customers for Competition, was announced during an event sponsored by the Broadband Coalition and COMPTEL at the historic Library of Congress. The site was also the location of the signing of the landmark bipartisan 1996 Telecommunication Act which enabled choice and competition in the telecom industry, launching a wave of innovation that has helped business customers and non-profits expand.

“We will be building stories from all over the country, from customers who benefit from competition,” said Chip Pickering, CEO of COMPTEL announcing the website and new effort. “There is a broad group of business, individuals and communities that believe in the same principles of competition.”

The new Customers for Competition website, www.customersforcompetition.com, collects testimonials from dozens of customers who appreciate competitive providers like tw telecom, XO Communications, Windstream and TDS Metrocom.

“Businesses of all sizes are flocking to competitive providers for three simple reasons: choice, price and service,” said Jeff Sharp, a spokesperson for the Broadband Coalition. “While much of the policy conversation has centered around technology transitions in the home, Customers for Competition will help tell the story of our business customers and how they depend on advanced broadband services.”

These companies customers range from small mom-and-pop run storefronts to airports and restaurant chains with multiple locations and nationwide footprints.

Customers for Competition features the slogan, “the customer is always right,” as a reminder that business customers want a choice in how they tailor their broadband needs to match their growth.

Since 1996, new innovations from competition have transformed the business marketplace. New technologies like VoIP, Cloud services, and Bandwidth on Demand have provided business customers with more flexibility and better pricing to fit their needs.

**The Broadband Coalition is a collection of the nation’s premier business broadband competitive service providers, advocating for innovation, connection and competition. For more information, please follow us on Twitter @bbandcoalition and learn more at http://thebroadbandcoalition.com

**About COMPTEL: Based in Washington, D.C., COMPTEL is the leading industry association representing competitive communications service providers and their supplier partners. COMPTEL members are entrepreneurial companies driving technological innovation and creating economic growth through competitive voice, video, and data offerings and the development and deployment of next-generation, IP-based networks and services. COMPTEL advances its members’ interests through trade shows, networking, education, and policy advocacy before Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the courts. COMPTEL works to ensure that competitive communications providers can continue to offer lower prices, better service, and greater innovation to consumers. For more information, visit www.comptel.org or follow on Twitter @COMPTEL.

Washington DC (May 20, 2014) – Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee today, continuing to deliver his message of competition and the need to make the network work for everyone.

In his prepared remarks, Chairman Wheeler continued to stress the core values of the network compact that will guide the IP transition. Core values that include: competition, consumer protection, public safety, national security and universal service.

In response to Wheeler’s testimony before the House Energy and Commerce hearing, Jeff Sharp, a spokesperson for the Broadband Coalition, released the following statement:

“FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s drive for competition, competition, competition is running into merger, merger, merger. Just this week, AT&T announced its intention to buy DIRECTV, raising the possibility of an even bigger AT&T with even greater market power.

“Through all this merger mania, Chairman Wheeler has held strong to his commitment to competition and access. As our networks evolve in the Internet age, competition and interconnection will ensure that we never again handcuff innovation.

“The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was not based on monopolistic assumptions, but on the promise that communication monopolies would never return. It set forth a commitment to competition that has revolutionized the entire tech sector. The 96 Act set forth an explosion of innovation and investment. Those benefits continue to create new networks, new industries and new jobs in the United States."

Washington DC (April 11, 2014) – A series of problems with AT&T’s proposed IP (internet protocol) trials were identified this week by national survey data expert Joseph Lenski, consumer groups and leading competitive providers of voice, data and broadband services.

Earlier this year AT&T announced its intention to move forward with technology experiments in West Delray Beach, Florida and Carbon Hill, Alabama. However, AT&T left a number of critical issues unresolved, including technology migration solutions for TDM to IP that are critical to the future of the wholesale business marketplace.

Upon extensive study of the proposed experiments, Joseph Lenski of Edison Media Research, found that AT&T will be unlikely to generate accurate and meaningful data about the impact of the TDM-to-IP transition on residential, business, and wholesale customers. In a filing to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Lenski states that by failing to included wire centers that encompass the true challenges most markets face, and not providing sufficient information on the types of data and metrics used to test control groups, AT&T has presented an incomplete trial that will fail to yield real-world results that could serve as a guide for the FCC.

In response to FCC filings in opposition to the AT&T trials, Jeff Sharp, a spokesperson for The Broadband Coalition, released the following statement:

“By failing to address the future of the wholesale marketplace, AT&T risks turning its IP trial into an IP travesty.

“In his FCC filing, survey expert Joe Lenski wisely points out that the incumbent Bell company has neglected to include the wholesale market. By not selecting wire centers that encompass the complex challenges most markets face, the AT&T trial is doomed to produce insufficient information, data and other metrics that can truly guide a TDM to IP transition.

“The FCC was crystal clear in its goals for the IP experiments: preserve the enduring values of the network compact, including competition, consumer protection, public safety and universal service. Unless changes are made to address the concerns of the wholesale market, AT&T’s trial will produce a road map to higher prices and less choice for business customers.”